Milking machine



Jan. 10, 1928. 1,656,124

A. MELoTTE MILKING MACHINE Filed June 22, 1925 Patented dan. y 1928.

NlTED STATES ,aan

PATEN 1 r liilILKING MACHINE.

.application led .une 22, 1925, Serial No. 38,827, and in Belgium duly a9, 1924.

l`he present invention relates to a collecting vessel or receiver for milking machines. to which is attached Ka device which acts automatically to prevent the level oi' the t milk in the vessel trom rising above a predetermined height.

llt has been proposed to utilize for the purpose stated a valve Which is raised by the milk, on reaching a certain level in the l0 vessel, so as to block up or close the duct through which the suction action is transmitted to the interior ofthe aforesaid vessel; and the object ot my invention is to combine a satety deviceoi' the kind just stated With a device or arrangement p tor automatically maintaining the suction in the intcriorot the vessel and in the ducts `which it feeds it the suction ceases to t'eed said vessel.

For this purpose, the duct which transmits the suction exerted by the partial vacuum to the vessel is extended beyond the seat ivhereon the valve automatically seats itself when the level oit' the milk reaches a certain height; such extension providing a second seat against which the aforesaid valve can seat itself if the suction ceases to be transmitted to the vessel. @ther characteristic features of the invention are described/hereinafter With reference to the accompanying drawing which illustrates, by Way of example, Va vertical sectional view of one form of construction of the invention. ci

'lhe milking machine, the upper part alone ot which is shown, com rises a vessel or receiver l which collects t e milk which is drawn into it by the action ot suction upon the udder ol the animal. rlhe vacuum Cgi means and is transmitted through a duct Q opening out into the upper part of the vessel and is then transmitted to the udder of the `animal through a channel 3 which at the same time serves to establish the iovv ot milk. The suction of the milk is also assisted in the Well known manner by the action of a pulsator which is supplied through a by-pass 4 branched upon the duct 2.

The combined actioxi of this pulsator (not shown) and the suction 'upon the udder of the animal causes milkto iloW into the receiver l through the channel 3.

As milkingl machines requently do not comprise any device for stopping automaticausing this suction is produced by anyq cally the 'flow oi milk into the collecting vessel l when the latter has been iilled up' to a predetermined level, l provide7 in order to overcome this disadvantage, a valve' lor il@ controlling the suction duct and which is `actuated by the liquid rising in the vessel l.

lt is to be noted in this-connection that the milking apparatus may be put out ol action by simply stopping the suction'upon t5 the udder, the pulsator continuing to opcrate. Consequently the delivery of milk may be cut oil by {interposing the above mentioned valve at ak point such that the lov-pass d continues to be supplied through the duct 2 when the vsaid valve is closed. li therefore arrange the valve, consisting ot y a ball in the lorin of construction shown, so as to act upon the outlet orifice 5 of the duct 2 of the. vessel l. 4

'lhe said ball is located in a chamber 6., the bottom ot which comprises a second orifice 'l' tor putting the chamber into communication With the vessel.

qllhen the apparatus is at rest the Weight t0 `of the ball causes it to occupy the position shown in the drawingfin which it rests upon the bottom of chamber 6 and ycloses the orifice 7, said bottom' being slightly dishedl so as to center the ball in that po- '55 sition. Due to the action exerted by the vacuum transmitted .through the duct 2 .when the apparatus is started, the ball is slightly raised andthe apparatus 'operates in the usual manner until the level of 'the to milk reaches the' level of the ball.

After this, the ball is raised bythe liquid -until it occupies the position shown in dotted lines when the liquid is approximately at the level shown by the dotted lines. The e5 effect of the suction can then no longer be transmitted through the vessel 1 to the udder of the animal and the flow of milk is automatically stopped.

It is also to be noted that this result may also be obtained by actuating the stop cock 8 which controls the channel admitting milk into the said vessel l.

The valve employed may naturally be of ordinary construction and itmay be placed at any point in the'suction duct communieating with the udder of the animal; this valve may in particular be arranged at a.y certain distance from the vessel and be controlled by a float which Would be connected utilized has a weight which is suitable to the use to-which it is put and that it may be raised and ressed lagainst the orifice by the milk rislng in the receiver. It may in particular be made of wood or rubber.

What I claim is:

l. In a milking machine., a receiver for milk, a cover for the receiver having au inlet duct for the milk opening through it into the interior 'of the receiver andl also having a suction duct, 'and an automatic valve 'device within the receiver applied to the suction duct to connect it with the receiver; said valve device comprising a casing tix-ed to the cover and constituting an extensionof the suction duct and having upper and lower internal valve seats, and a valve movable freely therein between said seats, the valve adapted to be4 raised into the upper seat by the milk as the latter rises in the receiver during the continuance of the milking operation so aste shut olf the suction from the receptacle, and adapted to seat itself automatically in the lower seat, it' the suction ceases to feed the receiver, so as to seal said lower seat and thereby prevent the entrance of air into the receiver.

2. In a milking machine, a receiver for milk; a cover for the receiver having an inlet duct for the milk opening through it into the interior of the receiver and also having a suction duct; and an automatic valve device Within said receiver applied to the suction duct to connect it with the receiver, said valve device comprising a casing permanently attached to said cover and provided with a betteln valve seat and with a tubular member opening into the casing at one end and extending at the other end above the suction duct, and a ball valve movable freely in such casing and adapted to be raised above said seat by the suction, and to seat itseltl automatically on the seat when the suction ceases so as to seal the same and thereby .prevent the entrance ot' air into the receiver.

In a milking machine, a receiver for milk; a cover for the receiver havingan inlet duct for the milk opening through it into the interior of the receiver and also having a suction duet; and an automatic valve device within said receiver applied to the suetion duct to connect it with the receiver, said valve device comprising a casing pei manently attached to said cover and provided with upper and lower internal valve seats,xand a. ball valve movable freely in such casing between said seats and adapted to be moved against the upper seat and thereby cut oli' the suction when the receiver has been filled to a certain level, and to drop by gravity upon the lower seat when the suction ceases so as to seal said lower seat and thereby prevent the entrance of air into the receiver.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature.

ALFRED MLOTTE. 

